Sambucus nigra 'Eva' Black Lace® (Elderberry)

An incredibly striking cultivar of black elderberry (Sambucus nigra), Black Lace® elderberry by Proven Winners adds striking color to any garden for multi-season appeal. In spring and summer, this showy, lace-leaf elderberry produces gorgeous, dense clustered of pink-toned flowers atop mounded dark purple-black foliage, attracting pollinators, butterflies, and gardeners with its sweet scent. Then, in the late summer and fall, Sambucus nigra Black Lace® produces showy clusters of black elderberries that can be used for delicious confections and baked goods.

Growing to a maximum size of about 6-8' tall and wide, Sambucus nigra Black Lace® is an excellent accent or speciment piece throughout the landscape, with flowers providing a great deal of interest to early season pollinators, and fall fruit attracting birds in the autumn too. Sambucus nigra Black Lace® performs best in full to part sun, and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions while requiring very little maintenance over time. This elderberry selection makes an excellent choice for a pop of color in border hedges and privacy screens, grows well near foundations, and makes an excellent small specimen plant with a lot of ecological appeal. 

Note: While proper preparation of elderberry fruits can produce tasty pies, pancakes, jellies, and liqueurs, improperly prepared elderberry can result in intense stomach upset, so care should be taken when planting around children or pets.

Photos courtesy of Proven Winners.